Attendees: Elyn Ong, Ching Ching, Xiang Ling, Linda Cheah, Gina Lim, Ann Tan, Bee Bee (Ching Ching’s sister), Carmen Chew, Diu, Grace Lim, Irene Teoh, Irene Toh, Jeff Tan, KB Loke, Kedrick, Lau Cheng Keat, Lee Teik Toon, Lenny Chai, Leong Kah Keong (Yy Tan Husband), Leong Phong Yun (YY son), LH Tan, Lim Bee Theng, Lim Beng Bee, Lim Leng Yoong, Muah Bee Cheng, Ong Kok Kee, Ong Koon Kuang, Pauline Oung, Rizaudin Wahab, Tan Yiat Yong (Yy.Tan), Wong Teik Aun, Ziaoying, Yap Shin (Gina's son) and Ching Neng Bin.
The Penang Adventurers' Club (PAC) organised a successful cave expedition at Gua Tempurung (椰壳洞) on August 10, 2025. A group of 34 PAC members were fortunate enough to participate in a 4-hour cave adventure of a lifetime. Even though it was completely dark for the last two hours, three local guides led us on a challenging walk that included navigating riverbeds, crawling through a river tunnel, sliding down uneven slopes, and squeezing through a narrow, body-fitting tunnel.
The Tempurung Cave network is one of Peninsular Malaysia's longest and largest, stretching 4.5 kilometers. Only 1.9km of the 4.5km is available to guests, which includes a 1.6km underground river. These waters carved up the spectacular cave networks and limestone formations that you can see throughout the Gua Tempurung network. During the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), communist rebels utilised the cave as a hideout, and some of their graffiti may still be seen on the walls.
Yes! We all sign up for the Gua Tempurung "Grand Tour," which consists of four levels that increase in difficulty gradually. Here's what it is like at each level, as well as the major challenges to expect.
The Tempurung Cave network is one of Peninsular Malaysia's longest and largest, stretching 4.5 kilometers. Only 1.9km of the 4.5km is available to guests, which includes a 1.6km underground river. These waters carved up the spectacular cave networks and limestone formations that you can see throughout the Gua Tempurung network. During the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), communist rebels utilised the cave as a hideout, and some of their graffiti may still be seen on the walls.
Yes! We all sign up for the Gua Tempurung "Grand Tour," which consists of four levels that increase in difficulty gradually. Here's what it is like at each level, as well as the major challenges to expect.
10.08.2025 - Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
10.08.2025 - Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
10.08.2025 - Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung ticket purchasing office's entrance.
L-R: Chew Ee Wei, Elyn Ong and Ching Neng Bin getting the Gua Tempurung tickets.
Level 4: Grand Tour (Wet, Full Traverse)
The Grand Tour, considered the most difficult tour, travels 3.8 kilometers from the cave entrance to the end via the underground river. In addition to visiting the Golden Flowstone and Top of the World platforms, you will travel to the east end of the cave and return via the underground river.
Typical time: 3.5–4 hours for many groups.
Main challenges:
1. Endurance & mixed terrain: Prolonged stair climbs early, then long stretches of slick boulders, slanted flow-stone, and cobbles under current.
2. Hydrology & safety stops: Water level dictates the line; after heavy rain, sections may close or slow to a guide-managed shuffle.
3. Obstacle moves: Expect sliding down polished rock, chimneying through gaps, low ceilings, and hand-over-hand moves around pools.
4. Navigation by headlamp: Lighting ends where the platforms end; you rely on guides and your lamp for the river segment.
2. Hydrology & safety stops: Water level dictates the line; after heavy rain, sections may close or slow to a guide-managed shuffle.
3. Obstacle moves: Expect sliding down polished rock, chimneying through gaps, low ceilings, and hand-over-hand moves around pools.
4. Navigation by headlamp: Lighting ends where the platforms end; you rely on guides and your lamp for the river segment.
PAC members are putting on their crush helmets.
PAC members wearing their crush helmets.
PAC members wearing their crush helmets.
PAC members performing their warm-up exercises.
PAC members performing their warm-up exercises.
PAC members performing their warm-up exercises.
The tour guides advised us before the journey begins to guarantee a safe and enjoyable journey. Pay close attention to the park ranger guides' instructions to avoid any unexpected situations.After the Gua Tempurung commanders' briefing.
The Penang Adventurers’ Club was founded on 24 April 1976 by a group of energetic and dynamic young men in Penang, namely M. Pasupathy, Ching Neng Bin and Hoon Joong High who happened to share a common interest in their love for nature, outdoor life, and adventure. They had a dream to initiate a club where people from all walks of life can gather for fellowship and to plan outdoor activities for themselves and others.
The club was officially registered on 6th December 1979. It is a non-profit organization which organizes recreational and leisure activities for members as well as the public. It also renders whatever services it can to the community for the betterment of society. The formation of the club marked a significant development in the Penang Municipal Park. The club has organized successful projects such as the Round Island Walk, Children’s Adventure Camp, Youth Camp, Fun Run, Lantern Night Festival, Hikathon, and etc.
The club was officially registered on 6th December 1979. It is a non-profit organization which organizes recreational and leisure activities for members as well as the public. It also renders whatever services it can to the community for the betterment of society. The formation of the club marked a significant development in the Penang Municipal Park. The club has organized successful projects such as the Round Island Walk, Children’s Adventure Camp, Youth Camp, Fun Run, Lantern Night Festival, Hikathon, and etc.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Entrance to Gua Tempurung.
The cave mouth of Gua Tempurung cave.
Entrance to Gua Tempurung.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
A view of the Gua Tempurung cave's enormous opening.
Warm-up with a short, lit boardwalk and stairs section.
Warm-up with a short, lit boardwalk and stairs section.
Warm up with a brief, well-lit boardwalk and stairwell section.
The boardwalk crosses part of the underground river, and the stairs lead to Platform 1.
The boardwalk crosses part of the underground river, and the stairs go up to Platform 1.
Warm-up with a short, lit boardwalk and stairs section.
Warm-up with a short, lit boardwalk and stairs section.
The boardwalk crosses part of the underground river, and the stairs go up to Platform 1 (Mr. Bat).
The boardwalk crosses part of the underground river, the stairs up to Platform 1.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Platform 2 (Echo-Echo) is when the stairway dips down and up again where Platform 3 is.
At Platform 2, you will notice not just a perspective of where you will eventually end up, but also the words "Echo Echo." Some visitors would try to shout and listen for echoes.
The boardwalk crosses part of the underground river, the stairs up to Platform 1.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Platform 2 (Echo-Echo) is when the stairway dips down and up again where Platform 3 is.
At Platform 2, you will notice not just a perspective of where you will eventually end up, but also the words "Echo Echo." Some visitors would try to shout and listen for echoes.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
The climb itself entails ascent and descent, as well as up and down flights of stairs. Some of these stairs are fairly lengthy, steep, and slippery. Most people will find it easier if they take it gently and hang on to the railings.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
A picture of a lady's face on the cave wall.
A picture of a chicken drumstick and wings on the cave wall.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
The Gua Tempurung cave's stalactites and stalagmites.
The Gua Tempurung cave's stalactites and stalagmites.
The Gua Tempurung cave's stalactites and stalagmites.
Platform 3 (Golden Flowstone) is 90 meters high.
Platform 3 features something unusual known as the Golden Flowstones.
Ong Kok Kee at Platform 3.
Platform 3 features something unusual known as the Golden Flowstones.
Platform 4 (Wind Tunnel) is located immediately before the wind tunnel's opening. It is not really a tunnel, but it is more enclosed than the preceding sections of the cave.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Platform 5 (Top Of The World) is the final destination for tour 2.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Ong Kok Kee at Platform 5.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub. The final leg of the Grand Tour will lead you to a route that demands cavers to slide down their longest and steepest slopes, then through the smallest fissure in the cave system, and finally through their deepest and longest stretch of underground river. Travel carefully through the river, as the cave's roof is incredibly low and loaded with jagged and sharp edges.
Crystal formation on the cave walls at Gua Tempurung cave.
Crystal formation on the cave walls at Gua Tempurung cave.
Names of some Chinese tin miners. From this point, after platform 5, we were in complete darkness until we exited the cave.
Names of some Chinese tin miners at Gua Tempurung cave.
The tools of Chinese tin miners at Gua Tempurung cave.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Sliding down an uneven slopes at Gua Tempurung cave.
Crawling down a hole in Gua Tempurung Cave.87x88. Walking down a cave tunnel at Gua Tempurung. 89. Walking down a cave tunnel at Gua Tempurung.
90x Walking along an underground river in Gua Tempurung cave.
Walking along an underground river in Gua Tempurung cave.
Walking along an underground river in Gua Tempurung cave.
Walking along an underground river in Gua Tempurung cave.
Walking along an underground river in Gua Tempurung cave.
White marble at Gua Tempurung cave.
White marble at Gua Tempurung cave.
This is a cave scorpion we discovered in the cave.
This is a cave centipede we discovered in the cave.
This is another cave centipede we discovered in the cave.
Walking along an underground river in Gua Tempurung cave.
There are a lot of bats on the ceiling in this section of the cave.
There are a lot of bats on the ceiling in this section of the cave.
There are a lot of bats on the ceiling in this section of the cave.
Walking along an underground river in Gua Tempurung cave.
At the end of the first half of the Grand Tour, we all take a break at an open area.
At the end of the first half of the Grand Tour, we all take a break at an open area.
At the end of the first half of the Grand Tour, we all take a break at an open area.
At the end of the first half of the Grand Tour, we all take a break at an open area.
At the end of the first half of the Grand Tour, we all take a break at an open area.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
At the end of the first half of the Grand Tour, we all take a break at an open area.
Ann Tan at Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
Gua Tempurung Cave Adventure by Penang Adventurers' Cub.
The return walk from the open area for the last and final activity.Briefing on next activity: squeezing through a tiny, body-fit tunnel in Cave.
168 The squeezing through a tiny, body-fit tunnel in the Cave.
After squeezing through a tiny, body-fit tunnel in the Cave.
After the Cave's narrow, body-fit tunnel, it was a walk back to the entrance.
After the Cave's narrow, body-fit tunnel, it was a walk back to the entrance.
After the Cave's narrow, body-fit tunnel, it was a walk back to the entrance.
After the Cave's narrow, body-fit tunnel, it was a walk back to the entrance. After the Cave's narrow, body-fit tunnel, it was a river walk back to the entrance. Crawling along a small passageway towards the cave entrance.Walking along the cave river to the cave entrance.
A big limestone along the cave river leads to the cave entrance.Walking along the cave river to the cave entrance.
We finally emerged into daylight at the mouth of Gua Tempurung, and everyone made it safely to the cave entrance. What a truly challenging yet rewarding experience it was! Our heartfelt thanks to the Penang Adventurers' Club for organizing such a successful and memorable project. This caving adventure will stay with us for a lifetime, and one day we will share these stories with our grandchildren with pride and wonder.
What a thrilling and memorable adventure! Your successful exit from Gua Tempurung, with everyone safe and full of stories to tell, is a testament to teamwork, perseverance, and the spirit of exploration. The Penang Adventurers' Club clearly organized an unforgettable experience—one that bonds participants for life and becomes the kind of legendary tale passed down through generations.
The mix of challenge and triumph in caving—navigating darkness, tight passages, and awe-inspiring formations—creates a unique kind of magic. It’s no surprise this will be a story for the ages, shared with wide-eyed grandchildren someday: "Did we ever tell you about the time we conquered Gua Tempurung?"
If you have any standout moments from the cave (a particularly tricky section, a beautiful chamber, or even a funny mishap), they’d be great to document now while the memories are fresh. Congrats on the achievement, and here’s to many more adventures!
///
